Frequently asked questions (FAQ's)

Q. What is an Easement?
A. An Easement is a legal document that conveys limited property rights from the Grantor (Property Owner) to the Grantee (Castro Valley Sanitary District). This document is usually recorded in the office of the Alameda County Recorder. A sanitary sewer easement creates a non-exclusive, perpetual right to use a portion of your property for sanitary sewer purposes. This provides the District with access rights to repair, replace, inspect, enlarge, change, maintain, test and/or remove the sanitary sewer located within the easement.

Q. Who owns and maintains the Easement?
A. The Property Owner continues to own the land and has only given up defined rights on the portion of land used for the easement. Maintenance of the property within the easement is the responsibility of the Property Owner.

Q. What is the size and location of the Easement?
A. The easement is typically ten feet wide (five feet on either side of the sanitary sewer), however, the size may vary. The location will be determined from recorded maps or a grant of easement document. If you are unfamiliar with the size and location of your easement please contact your title company or the District at (510) 537-0757.

Q. Who can enter my property?
A. The District, if it has an easement, may go onto the easement at any time. The District may, on occasion, have a Contractor present to perform specific tasks relating to the District's operations. We will make an effort to notify you prior to entry, however, in the case of an emergency we may need to enter without prior notification. Please request, at any time, to see District personnel photo identification cards, or contact the District at (510) 537-0757.

Q. Can I make improvements within the Easement?
A. Easement are typically granted to the District with the understanding that the property owner may make improvements to the surface such as fences, asphalt paving, trees, irrigation and lighting systems or similar improvements. As part of the agreement, the District is permitted to remove any of these improvements for the purpose of maintaining and/or replacing the sanitary sewer. Please note that the District is not liable for any damage to your improvements.

Q. What does this mean to me?
A. Do not place planters or any other objects on manhole covers.Fences and gates are not to be constructed over manhole covers. No permanent structures are to be erected within the easement location. Keep the location of the easement clear of debris and material, especially around manhole access points. Planting of trees within the easement is not permitted without prior approval from the District.

• For more information on keeping the area clear within the easement, please contact the District at (510) 537-0757.

Q. What is an encroachment on an easement?
A. An encroachment is a physical intrusion in an area of the easement contrary to the agreement. The District may require that any unauthorized encroachments be removed at the property owner's expense. All encroachments on easements require written approval of the District by way of an Encroachment Agreement.

Q. Are there penalties for locating structures or improvements on an easement?
A. The property owner may be faced with all costs of removal and any associated damages resulting from unauthorized structures or improvements on land subject to an easement.

Q. Do you have a dog?
A. The District makes every effort to try to minimize impacts on you, however, if you own a dog this makes our work a little more challenging! We would appreciate if you could provide us with your name and contact number so we can make special arrangements with you regarding the care for your dog before entering your property. Please contact us at (510) 537-0757.

Q. What is the size and location of the Easement?
A. The location will be determined from recorded maps or a grant of easement document. Keep the location of the easement clear of debris and material, especially around manhole access points. The property owner may be faced with all costs of removal and any associated damages resulting from unauthorized structures or improvements on land subject to an easement.

Note: We would appreciate if you could provide us with your name and contact number so we can make special arrangements with you regarding the care for your dog before entering your property.